Children's Home run by Westgate Lifestyle Project Limited in Hounslow

Unique reference number SC409851 Inspection date 16/01/2014 Inspector Wilfried Maxfield Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

p.1

Date of last inspection 15/07/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

p.1

This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

p.2

Brief description of the service

This children's home is registered to care for up to four young people. The home is owned and operated by a private provider.

p.3

The inspection judgements and what they mean

Good progress The children’s home has demonstrated continued improvement in quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the large majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Satisfactory progress The children’s home has maintained quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Inadequate progress The children’s home has failed to address one or more requirements and/or has not met the majority of recommendations and/or the quality of care and outcomes for children and young people have declined since the last full inspection.

p.3

Progress

Since their previous inspection the service is judged to be making inadequate progress .

p.3

Progress

This home was judged as good overall at the last inspection which took place on 15 July 2013. At this interim inspection the home is judged to be making inadequate progress. The home has fully addressed one recommendation and has partly addressed one requirement made at the previous inspection. Additional shortfalls have been noted. As a consequence of this, six requirements have been raised.

p.3

Progress

The home has recently employed an experienced and well qualified deputy manager. The new member of staff can demonstrate a clear commitment to improving the service. A wide range of procedures and general care practices are currently being reviewed. Young people's care is being planned and reviewed in a satisfactory way. Statutory reviews generally reflect positively on how the home is addressing young people's needs. Overall, staff adopt a constructive and professional approach to working with young people.

p.3

Progress

Not all of the young people are positive about the care they are receiving. Staff are currently not able to engage young people positively and provide a meaningful structure to their day. While all of the young people stated that they mostly feel well looked after at the home some are worried that there is not enough to do for them. In addition, it is of concern that some basic necessities are not being adequately provided for. Young people complain that some of their needs are not being met including an insufficient choice of clothes and toiletries. One young person stated 'I have not enough clothes to wear. I have only one outfit to go to college with. I find this very embarrassing.'

p.3

Progress

Young people generally feel safe. The home employs a sufficient number of staff to provide satisfactory levels of supervision. This is not always clearly evidenced. The recording of staffing levels is not sufficiently robust and staffing rosters do not consistently record the names of staff who actually worked on any one shift.

p.4

Progress

Staff can demonstrate an adequate understanding and skill to manage and protect the young people. However, the management of the home does currently not provide staff with a good quality learning and development programme. A lack of staff training in core areas potentially affects the welfare of young people at the home. Essential training that enables staff to safeguard and protect young people is not being provided. A significant number of staff have not had any child protection and physical intervention training. New staff are not benefitting from regular supervision. In response to shortfalls identified at the last inspection a number of staff have recently undergone training in medication administration.

p.4

Progress

The home is currently failing to adequately protect young people from individuals unsuitable to work in a children's home environment. The home's vetting and recruitment practices are not sufficiently robust. Staff files do not always contain a recent photograph and professional qualifications. References are not being obtained consistently and proof of identity is not always available on file.

p.4

Progress

The premises are not providing young people with an environment that is well looked after and homely. Not all parts of the home are well maintained and decorated. Young people's bedrooms are of particular concern. Essential furniture such as chairs, tables and wardrobes are either broken or missing and walls and doors are dirty and damaged. As a result of the last inspection young people’s bedroom door frames have been repaired and the rear garden fence has been partly replaced.

p.4

Progress

The Regulation 33 and 34 reports, and notifications of significant events are being forwarded to Ofsted. However, effective leadership and management, quality of care and outcomes for young people are not being maintained and the home is judged to have made inadequate progress since the last inspection.

p.4

Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

p.5

Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) maintain in the children's home the records specified in Schedule 4 and ensure that they are kept up to date. Here in particular, a copy of the staff duty roster of persons working at the children's home, and a record of the actual rosters worked (Regulation 29 (1) Schedule 4, 16.)) 03/03/2014

p.5

Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that the needs and reasonable preferences of each child accommodated in the home for clothing including footwear, and personal necessities are met (Regulation 14 (1)) 03/03/2014

p.5

Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that all persons employed by the registered person receive appropriate training, supervision and appraisal (Regulation 27 (4) (a)) 03/03/2014

p.5

Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that full and satisfactory information is available in relation to staff in respect of each of the matters specified in Schedule 2 (Regulation 26 (3) (d)) 03/03/2014

p.5

Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that all parts of the children's home used by children are kept clean and reasonably decorated and maintained (Regulation 31 (e)) 03/03/2014

p.5

Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that children accommodated in the home are provided with appropriate leisure facilities and activities. (Regulation 18 (2) (b)) 03/03/2014

p.5

About this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

p.6

About this inspection

The report details the progress made by the provider since the last full inspection, identifies any further strengths, any areas for improvement and makes judgements as outlined in the Inspection of children’s homes – framework for inspection.

p.6